Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-13
FAMILY NAMES.

FAMILY NAMES.
CurioSitieS of Their Origin and Evolution Ex-
pounded.
New York Star
If. instead of name, every child on
entering the world were assigned a num-
Der, the plan would have many features
to recommend it. Directories would be
sirnplifed; there would be no chance of
confusion with twenty-four Mrs Joneses
ali in one place, and to address letter
you would have nothing to do but to
write on tie envelope, say, mo. 9,242.-
769, ESQ., Bat with these manifest ad-
vantages there would be considerable
loss. When Juliet said, 'What's in a
name?" she talked, as lovers do at ran
dom. Her speech to Romeo Montague
is beautiful, but it is not logic. She was,
indeed, as anyone with a critical eye
can see, in the strangest confusion about
the difference between Christian and a
surname. That Romeo did not correct
her on the instant can only be accounted
for by the fact that he himself was not
in fit state of mind for playing the in
names. What giimpses of old life they
sometimes give US; they are little bits of
history:
REVELATIONS OF HUMAN INTEREST;
scraps of poetry and humor; notes of af
lection, ridicule, sarcasm and lmpertin-
ence; often stories condensed into a sim
gle word. A large number of surnames
consist of the fathers name with the ad
dition of 'son," or an equivalent for son,
like Mac or Fitz. Names CT this sort
often fuctuate from generation to gen
Grafton. Alan Waterson, for example,
had son Walter, who called himself
Walter Alanson." Other names are pure
ly local in origin, names such as Brook,
Dale, Marsh, Land, Wood and Heath.
Among local names we may also include
Kent, Cornish, Wiltshire, DeVonish, Ire
land, Welsh, and such like. Granville
may be classed among local names, 1t is
told that Lord LyttletOn once disputed
with the head of the Granvilles which was
the older family, asserting his own to be
the more ancient, inasmuch as the little
must necessarily have existed before the
Grandville. Offices, occupation, and con-
dition gave rise to other names. Thus
we have Smith, Cook, Shepherd, Plow-
man, Knight, Corner (Coroner), Archer,
Singer, Justice, Provost, Dresser, Chap
man, Barbour, and host more. The
surnames of occupation form wonder
full guide to the industries of our fore
fathers. Those who kept shops of inns
got
suRNAMEs FROM THEIR SIGNS,
practice which accounts for many sur
names of a fancier order.
John at the Bell became John Bell;
Thomas at the Rose became Thomas
Rose; Oliver at the Therne became
Oliver Thorne, and Nicholas at the Spar,
row became Nicholas Sparrow.
A large class Of names is devoted to
the description of personal appearance,
manner, and character. We find out
ward peculiarities indicated in an i'm
mense number, such as Longman, Short
man, Smallman, Big, Little, Thick, Thin,
Shorter, Stronger, Black, White and
Browns. Mental characteristics gave
rise to such surnames as Good, Patient,
Wise, Gay, Sage, Blythe, Merry, Make
peace, Sweet, Proud, Meek, Humble, and
Jolly. People who reminded their neigh
bors of birds, beasts, fish, and insects
many surnames, of which samples may
be seen in our collection. Not a few
names representing personal appearance
and character have evidently been origin
ally nicknames Cruikshank, Glutton,
or Miser, for example. Oc-
casionally, as in the case Of SWindler, the
name has the air of ''giving a piece Of
ones mind
The frequency with which particular
names are met varies with the locality.
In Scotland the names of some localities
is particularly well defined. We have
Mackenzie, Robertson, and
Stewart in the north; Scott Kerr, Elliott, |
Johnson, and Maxwell in the south; Cor
don, Forbes, Grant and Ogilvie in the |
east; and Campbell, Cameron, MacLean
and Kennedy in the west.
"This arises from the clansmen having |
made practice of
TAKING TIE NAMES OF THEIR CHIEFS
and considering themselves members of
their family by adoption, if not other
WISE" There are some names met with
in England which appear never to have
crossed the border. Among those Of
which England may thus claim to have a
we find Church-yard, Deadman,
Scamp, swindler, Gotobed, Slaughter, !
5tartup, Twentymen, Allbones, Little
proud, Fudge, Puddle, and Wildblood |
The most prevalent surnames in Scotland
according to Mr.. George Seton, are
Smith, the name Of one person in every |
5ixty-nine; Macdonald, one in seventy |
eight; Brown, one in eighty nine;
one in ninety-one; Campbell
one in ninety-two Thompson, one in
ninety five, and Stewart, one in ninety
eight.
The soul of name," says Isaac Dis
raeli, 'will have, IN spite of all our
philosophy, painful and ludicrous eff
feet on our ears and our associations. 1t
is vexatious that the softness of delicious
vowels or the ruggedness of memorable |
should at all be connected |
with a mans happiness or even have an
influence on his fortunes" Some names,
are almost fatal to success; they
simply suggest jokes and encourage |
familiarity. A man has no hesitation in |
proving "thumps upon your back how he
asteems YOUR merit" if YOU are called !